Bylaws of Score chapter 193 Erie, Pa.

Bylaws of the Erie Chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE)

Article 1 – Chapter
SCORE is a nonprofit association chartered for charitable and educational
purposes and each SCORE chapter is a unit member of the Association.
SCORE is a business development resource of the Small Business
Administration (SBA) which sponsors and supports SCORE activities. The
Erie chapter covers northwestern Pennsylvania.

Article 2 – Purpose
The purpose of the organization is to strengthen the US small business
community through experienced SCORE members who provide high quality
technical and managerial counseling, guidance, and mentoring to
prospective and existing small businesses, and to non profit organizations
(clients) on handling of business problems.

Article 3 – Principles
Clients request SCORE assistance.
SCORE provides education, counsel and guidance to the client.
This may include seeking additional counsel from other SBA resources, trade associations, or other businessmen or if appropriate encouraging the client to seek paid professional assistance.
SCORE services are free to the clients.
SCORE activities involve a public trust and a public confidence.
Members shall maintain the highest professional standards and adhere strictly to the SCORE Code of Ethics.
SCORE services are confidential. Information on a client’s business
imparted to SCORE or included in counselors’ case reports shall be held in
strictest confidence except as the client authorizes its disclosure.

Article 4 – Members
Members are selected from the business or professional community for their specialized and general business experience, judgment, and ability to communicate. Members may be active or retired.
Applications from volunteers will be screened by the Executive Committee for acceptance or rejection.
All applications shall be reviewed without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, age, marital status, handicap or citizenship.
Members may resign by written notice to the Chair.
Membership may be terminated if the member does not fulfill his/her SCORE obligations or violates the conditions of membership.

Article 5 – Officers and Elections
The Officers of the Chapter shall be a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary,
Treasurer, (a combined office of Secretary/Treasurer is allowed at the discretion of the Chair).
The Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee Chair and two other members to nominate members for the above offices.
Election of Officers shall be conducted at the Annual Meeting.
Recommendation of the Nominating Committee will be made at the prior monthly meeting. Nominations from the floor may be made at that pre-annual meeting or in writing to the Secretary within one week after that meeting.
Such written nominations require the signatures of five active members.
The Secretary will distribute those written nominations to all members at least one week prior to the Annual Meeting.
Officers shall be elected by written ballot, unless a nomination is unopposed, in which case the election may be conducted by voice vote.
Officers shall serve for one year and their term of office commences on October 1. If the Chair is unable to serve, the Vice chair shall assume the position. If the other officers are unable to serve, the Chapter shall
elect successors to complete their term.

Article 6 – Duties of Officers
The Chair shall manage the affairs of the Chapter in accordance with the principles and policies of SCORE.
The Chair shall:
Preside at all Chapter meetings.
Appoint such committees as are necessary to accomplish the Chapter’s purpose.
Assign clients to individual members for counsel and supervise members to ensure prompt effective service.
Keep members informed of SCORE and Chapter activities.
Determine that Chapter and member reporting requirements are met.
Be otherwise guided in the performance of his/her leadership responsibilities by the provisions of the Standard Operating Manual (SOM) issued by the national SCORE office.
The Vice Chair will assist the Chair and act in his/her place in the Chair’s absence.

The Vice Chair shall:
Process client requests and refer to the Chair for assignment.
Coordinate activities with SCORE District Office and the local SBA office in Pittsburgh , PA.
Manage the computerization of the Chapters activities.
Determine that Chapter members receive or have access to SCORE and SBA
documents and other materials for counseling.

The Secretary shall:
Keep minutes of Chapter meetings.
Maintain Chapter records, files and reports.

The Treasurer shall:
Handle the receipts and disbursements of Chapter funds.
Maintain the financial records of the Chapter.
Officers may be removed as provided in the SOM.

Article 7 – Meetings
Regular meeting of the Chapter will be held on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise decided by the Executive Committee.
The regular meeting for the month of May shall be the Annual Election Meeting The Annual Meeting will be held in September and shall be for the purpose receiving annual reports of officers and committees and for any other business.
Special meetings may be called by the Chair or Executive Committee or shall be called upon a written request of 20% of the members of the Chapter. The purpose of the special meetings shall be stated in the call
and at least one weeks notice shall be given.
A quorum consists of 30% of the members of the Chapter.

Article 8 – Committees
The following Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Chair.
The Executive Committee consisting of the Chapter officers, the immediate past Chair and such other members as the Chair selects.
Marketing Committee
Membership Development Committee
The Chair may appoint such other special committees as he/she or the
Executive Committee feel, from time to time, are required to further the  Chapter’s activities.

Article 9 – Amendment and Ratification
These bylaws may be ratified or amended at any regular chapter meeting by a two thirds vote provided that the proposed bylaws or amendment has been submitted in writing to the Chapter at the prior monthly meeting.

Article 10 –
All provisions of the "SCORE Operating Manual (SOM)" are incorporated
into this document. This includes, but is not limited to, Chapter 11 -
"Chapter Formation and Termination", and Chapter 12 - "Statutory, Legal, and Insurance Issues".

These bylaws have been written and displayed for members acceptance or modification on May 15, 2007. For input please email  bylaws@score193eriepa.com  Please include Name and comments.